Photo: BigBearCabins · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Big Bear Lake is healthier than 57% of U.S. towns
Big Bear Lake differs from California on 19 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 11 better, 8 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Big Bear Lake. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Big Bear Lake
Cancer, COPD and arthritis run high in Big Bear Lake
1 in 9 adults have had cancer (10.7%), vs 6.4% across California. 1 in 13 adults have COPD (7.7%), vs 5.1% across California. Arthritis is also above the state: 31.4%, vs 20.8% across California. In all, Big Bear Lake runs above California on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Big Bear Lake, and more people treating it
39.4% of adults have high blood pressure (California 30.5%), but 76.4% of them take medicine for it, vs 71.3% statewide. Checkups ↓
Big Bear Lake keeps up with checkups
It beats California on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (75.4% vs 71.9%) and cholesterol checks (88.7% vs 85.4%). Checkups ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the California figure falls outside Big Bear Lake’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A−.
What’s behind Big Bear Lake’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Big Bear Lake is healthier than 57% of U.S. towns, #465 of 847 in California. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 77% of U.S. towns); fair or poor health pulls it down (better than 25%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Big Bear Lake’s median household income is $76,250; among the 10,820 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($57K–$95K), it’s healthier than 64%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Big Bear Lake adults…
Big Bear Lake runs above CA on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Big Bear Lake adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.
Care in and near Big Bear Lake
1 hospital in Big Bear Lake, plus the nearest just outside it.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Big Bear Lake; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Everyday habits, side by side with California
Share of adults, with the California figure marked.
6.4 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves
How Big Bear Lake adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Big Bear Lake does better than California.
1 in 3 Big Bear Lake adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
14.5% of Big Bear Lake adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Big Bear Lake and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Bear Lake | B | 31.7% | 13% | 12.4% | CDC place |
| Big Bear City | B− | 32.8% | 12.5% | 13.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Big Bear Lake adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Big Bear Lake
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Big Bear Lake is better than California on 11 and worse on 8; on the rest, the California figure falls inside Big Bear Lake’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Big Bear Lake | CA | U.S. | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 22.9%20.4–25.4 | 22.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.1%13.4–16.8 | 13.4% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.8%14.2–17.5 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 31.7%27.5–36 | 27.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13%11.4–14.6 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 39.4%36.2–42.6 | 30.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.6%37.1–43.9 | 35.4% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 31.4%28.6–34.2 | 20.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.3%9.1–11.5 | 9.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.7%9.8–11.7 | 6.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.4%7.6–9.3 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 7.7%6.8–8.8 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.2%3.8–4.6 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.3%11.7–17.2 | 10.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.4%10.6–14.2 | 10.9% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 22.3%19.4–25.4 | 24.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.4%12.3–16.7 | 15.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.7%29.8–37.9 | 35.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.3%7.1–9.6 | 10.6% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.4%72.4–78.1 | 71.9% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 62.3%59.4–65.3 | 62.8% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.7%87.4–90 | 85.4% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.4%73.4–79.2 | 71.3% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.1%59.9–68.3 | 57.5% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.1%66.6–79.3 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21%18.4–23.7 | 20.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33%29.3–36.8 | 37.3% | 32.5% | Better |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.2%21.3–27.2 | 28.6% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 14.3%12.4–16.2 | 17.9% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.1%9.7–12.6 | 14.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.2%5.4–7.1 | 7.3% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.8%6.9–8.8 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 14.5%12.6–16.5 | 15.6% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31.9%28.6–35.2 | 30.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.3%14.3–18.2 | 13.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.8%12.3–15.3 | 14.6% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.2%7.3–9.2 | 5.9% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.7%5.1–6.3 | 5.6% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.7%7.7–9.7 | 8.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.5%4–5 | 3.9% | 3.8% | Higher |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the California figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Big Bear Lake
Is Big Bear Lake a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Big Bear Lake is healthier than 57% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health, #465 of 847 in California. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 64%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Big Bear Lake?
CDC estimates 31.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 27.5% and 36%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Big Bear Lake?
Mountains Community Hospital in Lake Arrowhead, 17.5 miles in a straight line from Big Bear Lake’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Big Bear Lake have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.1–9.6%), against 10.6% across California.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Big Bear Lake more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Big Bear Lake.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The California figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.